Local Arts Seen: Minnesota Black Fine Art Show @ the DAI

Carl Wesley--Temple #7

Last Wednesday the Duluth Art Institute hosted an opening reception for three new exhibitions. The Minnesota Black Fine Art Show is now on display in the John Steffl Gallery on the balcony above the Great Hall. Jean: The Inspiration Behind the Birkenstein Arts Movement is on display in the Morrison Gallery. And Claudia Faith's Family is in the Corridor Gallery.

Minnesota Black will be on display through January 2. The curated show features emerging and established black Minnesota artists of African descent. This is a show that has been traveling around the state with Duluth as its final stop. Many, if not mot most, of the artists were present to discuss their work at the reception. Examples of their work are shared here to give a flavor of what you will find. As I often say, for best results check it out in person.

A few local Duluth artists whom I have been following for many years have a work in this show. Carla Hamilton has several pieces. One of her quotes was used on the show's program. "While nobody's comfort is guaranteed, a new perspective certainly is."

Ivy Vainio--Breaking Free #2

Terresa Moses--Excuse Me Ladies

Carla Hamilton--Triangle Women

Terresa Moses--Gelevolution

Antowon Key--Red, White & Black #8

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Eyenga Bokamba--Great Migration

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Vern Northrup studies an artist's dyptich.

I sometimes like to take pictures of people looking at paintings because it provides a sense of scale. In this case it's a little more than that. I found the some abstract color of the paintings to have the feel of fire. Vern Northrup is a photographer who this past couple years has been showing his work, some of which features fire. 

In February last year Vern gave a talk regarding the manner in which traditional Native culture has utilized fire as a tool. The exhibition of Northrup's photographs in the AICHO Gallery was titled Ishkode, which means "Fire" in the native Ojibwe tongue. (See: The Role of Fire In Native Culture.)

Featured Artists

The following artists have work featured in this exhibit. 

Kprecia Ambers, Minneapolis; kpinspires.com
Eyenga Bokamba, Minneapolis; eyengabokambapaintings.com
Christopher E. Harrison, Twin Cities; harrisonartstudio.net
Carla Hamilton, Duluth
Bill Jeter, Minneapolis; homewoodstudios.com/artists/jeter.html
Antwon Key, Mankato; antwonkey.com
Terresa Moses, Duluth; terresahardaway.com
Theoneste Munyemana, Minneapolis
Ivy Vainio, Duluth
Carl Wesley, Minneapolis

Related Links

Catching Up With Artist Carla Hamilton

Talking Photography With Ivy Vainio

Local Arts Seen: Cutting Edge and Great Lakes Academy Student/Instructor Exhibition

Great Lakes Academy, an invitation to splendor.

I was able to briefly drop in on two art openings last night. I primarily wanted to grab a few photos so I might encourage others to attend these shows if able.

The Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art had its first annual Student/Instructor Open House and Exhibition. It's a full weekend affair, as in Friday through Sunday. We also dropped in on Ellen Sandbeck's The Cutting Edge at the Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center. You can read details about both of these art exhibits in yesterday's post.

The purpose of today's blog post is simply to encourage you to go check out these events. We also have a Duluth Dylan Fest event at Karpeles Manuscript Museum from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m., Phil Fitzpatrick's presentation "Roots & Echoes: Images and Influences in Dylan's North Country. Karpeles is hosting Bill Pagel's Dylan-themed archives, "Einstein Disguised As Robin Hood" till the end of June, but you can get a double scoop of good stuff if you stop this afternoon. Karpeles is directly across the street from St. Luke's Hospital emergency room entrance on First Street.

Ellen Sandbeck's work has become increasingly complex, and her current themes are attention-getting. Check it out if you are able.

Her Buddha-A-Day project should have been preserved in a book.

Sampat Devi Pal, founder of the Pink Gang. "We, we giths rapists with sticks.
If we find the culprit, we thrash him black and blue so he dare not attempt
wrong toany girl or woman again."

The Cutting Edge is can be viewed at the former YWCA at 202 West Second Street. GLA of Fine Art is on the 800 block of Third Street on the West side of Mesabi. This show is open from 1 to 8 Saturday and 1 to 5 tomorrow.

Meantime, the sun is out. Seize the day.

Local Arts Seen: For Last Minute Xmas Gift Ideas, Try Art in the Alley

At the Zieigeist Atrium

Saturday I did a quick meander through the developing Duluth Downtown arts district to check out a few places and spaces. It was too late to catch the Zeitgeist Atrium event, and too early for other things, but just right to take a few pictures at Art in the Alley, there on the corner of Superior Street and Third Avenue East. I mention this only to suggest that if you are still looking for some one-of-a-kind ideas to fulfill all your family gifting, you might want to visit some of our local arts vendors.

Art in the Alley, 230 East Superior Street, is jam-packed with items to enhance most any home, apartment or cavern. To be honest, I did not do any due diligence to see where the signage was produced, so when I say "buy local" in this case, I am encouraging you to find the work here by local artists from a locally owned business.

On the Souptown side of the bridge (It's just a bridge. Get over it!) Art On The Planet has completed its cross-town transfer to the former Dunbar Building, 1413 Tower Avenue, which it now shares with Wine Beginnings. Their entire inventory (as far as I know) is local. I only mention all this today to help you find something memorable for your giving this year.

Art In The Alley

For what it's worth, many families are reducing the quantity of gifts they are giving and encouraging friends and family to send the money the might have spent to other worthy causes. If you're supporting the arts, the Tweed, the Duluth Art Institute, the Armory Arts, Zeitgeist and Music Center and Duluth Dylan Fest are all funded by the generosity of donors. There are also numerous agencies and organizations devoted to helping the needy in our community, including CHUM, the Damiano Center, Salvation Army and others.

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And so is art.

Another "hot" spot where you can find last minute gifts is Lake Superior Art Glass, on the corner of 2nd Avenue East and Superior Street. My grandparents lived fifteen minutes from the Fenton Glass Works in West Virginia and it generated in me a lifelong fascination for glassmaking arts. You can watch the artisans live, and be amazed.

Just keeping you aware of things that may not have been on your grid, but ought to be.

You may not be in the Twin Ports, bit wherever you are I'm sure there are a host of creative and passionate people in your community who are worth paying attention to.

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Engage it.